Australians have less access to our important cultural institutions thanks to the Gillard Government's Efficiency Dividend.

In Senate Estimates hearings last night, the National Gallery, National Library, National Film and Sound Archive and National Museum each detailed significant cuts in jobs and services they had undertaken in order to meet the 1.5% efficiency dividend.

The Australian Greens renewed their call for greater funding of SBS after it was revealed services in fifteen languages had been temporarily suspended by the broadcaster during the summer break.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the Government needs to substantially increase funding in the 2012-13 budget, and decrease the broadcaster's dependence on declining advertising revenues.

Senate Estimates questions to cultural institutions about the impact of the efficiency dividend on their operations

Senate Estimates questions to the Office for the Arts on the Australia Council Review and the Production / PDV / Location offsets for films and games

Questions to the Australia Council for the Arts in Senate Estimates hearings, specifically regarding Craft Australia, Leigh Warren and Dancers and general fair notice of defunding.

Additional Estimates - Finance and Public Administration Committee - Monday 13 February - Department of Parliamentary Services

Senator LUDLAM: I have questions on the opening statement. Mr Kenny, on the ICT review that the President mentioned in the opening statement, I would like to ask a couple of quick questions of you or whoever wants to take them.

Mr Kenny : You can, although it may be more appropriately directed to the President.

The PRESIDENT: To me.

More than a year on from the defeat of the Government's proposed mandatory net filter, Australia's parliamentarians have instead elected to heavily filter their own web access.

In budget estimates hearings this morning, Australian Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam established that the entire .info top level domain is blocked to Parliament House, knocking out an unknown number of sites including an anti-war blog and sites on energy policy and nuclear disarmament.

The Australian Greens have warned the Government and Coalition to avoid a ‘quick fix' stitch-up with the major sporting codes and media companies following the Optus Federal Court decision.

Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said "The judgement appears to be a common sense reading of the Copyright Act that recognises people should be able to watch content at a time and place of their choosing".

As Wikipedia goes on strike to protest the proposed ‘Stop Online Piracy Act' (SOPA) currently before the US Congress, the Greens have called on the Australian Government to take a stand in defence of Australian internet users and protect the viability of the medium.

Australian Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam pointed to the global blackout of online encyclopaedia Wikipedia as an example of the depth of the campaign to prevent the bill from becoming law.

The review of the Australia Council for the Arts announced by Minister Simon Crean is an important process that must not be kept secret, and must not be used as an excuse to defund programs, the Australian Greens said today.

"There is very wide agreement in the arts sectors across Australia that a review of the Australia Council is necessary, but the proof will be in the pudding," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.